Hard surface cleaning compositions and method of removing stains

Abstract

Improved hard surface cleaning compositions having an acidic pH, providing good removal of soap scum stains, and further feature low levels of irritability to the user. The compositions comprise about 0.1-10% by weight of an acid sequestrant constituent; about 0.1-10% by weight of a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents; about 0.001-1% by weight of a single constituent which exhibits both anionic surfactant and hydrotrope properties; about 0-20% by weight of one or more optional constituents; the balance to 100% by weight of water, wherein the aqueous hard surface cleaning composition exhibits a pH of 7 or less, especially a pH of about 5 or less. Although acidic, the improved hard surface cleaning compositions feature low irritability to the eyes and skin of consumers. The compositions also provide disinfecting effects.

1. An aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition comprising:
 (a) a first acid sequestrant constituent comprising citric acid and at least one second acid sequestrant selected from the group consisting of cresylic acid, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, phosphoric acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid, sulfamic acid, acetic acid, benzoic acid, boric acid, capric acid, caproic acid, cyanuric acid, dihydroacetic acid, dimethylsulfamic acid, propionic acid, polyacrylic acid, 2-ethyl hexanoic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, 1-glutamic acid, isopropyl sulfamic acid, naphthenic acid, oxalic acid, phosphorus acid, valeric acid, benzene sulfonic acid, xylene sulfonic acid, sulfonic acids, maleic acid, acetic acid, adipic acid, lactic acid, butyric acid, gluconic acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, and glycolic acid;  
 (b) a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents wherein said hydrophobic solvent exhibits a solubility in water of about 0 to about 20 ml per 100 ml of water, and which comprises about 51 to about 99 wt. % of said mixture of solvents, and wherein said hydrophilic solvent comprises about 1 to about 49 wt % of said mixture of solvents;  
 (c) about 0.001 to less than about 1% by weight of a single constituent which exhibits both anionic surfactant and hydrotrope properties and is at least one selected from the group, consisting of alkyl phenoxy benzene disulfonates, linear alkyl benzene sulfonates, alkyl naphthalene sulfonates and salts thereof;  
 (d) about 0 to about 20% by weight of one or more optional constituents; and  
 (e) the balance to 100% by weight water, wherein the aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition exhibits a pH of 7 or less.  
 
     
     
       2. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the second acid sequestrant is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, tartaric acid, and glycolic acid. 
     
     
       3. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the acid sequestrant constituent comprises at least about 25% by weight of citric acid. 
     
     
       4. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the total acid sequestrant constituent is present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10% by weight. 
     
     
       5. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents comprises a hydrophobic solvent which is an organic solvent which demonstrates solubilization of an aliphatic portion of a fatty acid within a soap scum stain. 
     
     
       6. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents comprises a hydrophobic solvent which is an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of mineral spirits, tripropylene glycol n-butyl ether, propylene glycol phenyl ether, dipropylene glycol n-propyl ether, and ethylene glycol phenyl ether. 
     
     
       7. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents comprises a hydrophilic solvent which is an organic solvent effective in solubilizing the hydrophobic solvent in water. 
     
     
       8. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 7  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents comprises a hydrophilic solvent selected from the group consisting of glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, tripropylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol n-propyl ether, ethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol n-butyl ether, diethylene glycol methyl ether, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, isopropanol, ethanol, methanol, and diethylene glycol monoethyl ether. 
     
     
       9. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents is present in an amount of about 2 to about 8% by weight. 
     
     
       10. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 9  wherein the mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic solvents is present in an amount of about 3 to about 6% by weight. 
     
     
       11. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the single constituent which exhibits both anionic surfactant and hydrotrope properties is an alkyl phenoxy benzene disulfonate. 
     
     
       12. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 11  wherein the alkyl phenoxy benzene disulfonate is selected from the group consisting of sodium dodecyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, sodium hexyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, sodium n-decyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, and sodium n-hexadecyl diphenyloxide disulfonate. 
     
     
       13. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  further comprising an optional constituent selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, foaming agents, foam stabilizers, coloring agents, fragrances (whether natural or synthetically produced), fragrance adjuvants and/or fragrance solubilizers, viscosity modifying agents, thickeners, gelling agents, pH adjusting agents, pH buffers, antioxidants, water softening agents, further solubilizing agents useful in the solubilization of one or more of the constituents in water, and preservative compositions. 
     
     
       14. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pH of the composition is from about 1 to about 5. 
     
     
       15. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  wherein the pH of the composition is from about 1 to about 4. 
     
     
       16. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 15  wherein the pH of the composition is from about 1 to about 3. 
     
     
       17. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 1  further comprising a gelling agent. 
     
     
       18. The aqueous hard surface cleaning and disinfecting composition according to  claim 17  wherein the gelling agent is xanthan gum. 
     
     
       19. A process for the removal of stains from hard surfaces comprising the step of applying an effective amount of the composition according to  claim 1  to a hard surface needing such treatment.